This report focuses on nine Members of the European Parliament whose second jobs or outside interests give rise to concerns over potential conflicts of interest. All nine MEPs hold paid positions in companies or business associations that directly or indirectly lobby EU decision-makers on current legislative files.

A Code of Conduct for Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) was introduced in January 2012. This followed calls for reforms after a major scandal hit the European Parliament. In 2011, three MEPs allegedly accepted an offer of money in exchange for tabling amendments to legislation in what would later be referred to as the 'cash for amendments' scandal. President Schulz, then leader of the Social and Democrats party, said that MEPs should have no other employment on the side, even calling on one of the MEPs involved to give back their mandate.

This new report explores whether, a year before parliamentary elections, the risk of conflicts of interest (still) exists among those MEPs currently serving as elected representatives. The report examines the cases of individual MEPs who risk potential conflicts of interest. The findings suggest that clear risks of potential conflicts of interest remain, despite the introduction of a new ethics code for MEPs in January 2012.